“There was the Hardwick case, like that,” said Burke reminiscently. “You remember the Gloucester Square doctor who was killed by the man who afterwards took rooms immediately opposite the doctor’s house; and the murderer never could tell why, except that it seemed the only thing to do.”
“Then I take it that in your profession the likelihood is really weighed and considered.”
“Yes, sir, it is. Some of the London men who came down here two years ago were talking about it.”
“Another point is the matter of coincidence. How do you feel about that?”
“It’s something that has played a big part in our work. One can’t put it aside. Coincidence and the other things you’ve mentioned often seem to run together.”
“And you know, of course, that Mr. Millicent’s gardener turned up very soon after I took Beech Lodge?”
“Yes, Mr. Derrick; Constable Peters reported that you had authorized him to occupy the cottage.”
“Then can you guess what brought him here all the way from Burma?”
“Did he go that far?”
Derrick nodded. “And came back by way of Canada—”